Oferta de treball: Postdoctoral researcher in heat-health early warning systems

We are seeking a talented and highly motivated postdoctoral researcher in the areas of weather predictability and heat-health early warning systems. The successful candidate will join the research team of Dr. Joan Ballester Claramunt  at ISGlobal within the framework of various research projects, mainly the ERC Consolidator Grant EARLY-ADAPT  and the Horizon Europe project CATALYSE  (see “Project information” below).
In EARLY-ADAPT, the chosen candidate will be at the forefront of environmental research by analysing a newly-created database of human health in Europe, which incorporates a range of environmental, socioeconomic and demographic variables and novel digital data streams at different spatiotemporal scales. See examples of recent high-impact publications here , here  and here . In CATALYSE, the chosen candidate will develop a high-resolution heat-health early warning system for the Spanish region of Catalonia, together with the Catalan Meteorological and Public Health Agencies, following the approach and methodology of the first continental heat-health early warning system Forecaster.Health .
In both areas, and following the approach and methodology documented here , the fellow will

• use epidemiological models to transform operational weather forecasts into health predictions;
• analyse and compare the spatiotemporal scales of predictability of weather forecasts and health predictions; and
• use this comparative predictability analysis to develop an operational, fit-for-purpose, early warning system representing the health impacts of environmental temperatures on human mortality, hospital admissions and occupational accidents.

The final aim of the work is to better inform potential end-users such as public health agencies to activate emergency plans directly targeting vulnerable groups.

EARLY-ADAPT (“Signs of Early Adaptation to Climate Change”, Jan’21-Jul’26, Grant agreement 865564) is a European Research Council Consolidator Grant (ERC-2019-CoG), whose overarching aim is to jointly analyse the multiple drivers of recent trends in human health. Its driving hypothesis is that societies are starting to adapt to climate change, but the effectiveness of early adaptation is heterogeneous in space and time. EARLY-ADAPT has recently completed the creation of a daily, continental-wide database with multiple health outcomes, climate variables and air pollutants. The database is being used to model the relation between health and the environment, quantify the modifying effect of the societal factors, and perform a predictability analysis to determine the most realistic adaptation scenarios for the projections of future health. The project will allow to detect, understand and quantify the inequalities in adaptation between countries, regions, cities and social groups. More information is available here.

CATALYSE (“Climate Action to Advance Healthy Societies in Europe”, Sep’22-Aug’27, Grant agreement101057131 ) is a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-HLTH-2021-ENVHLTH-02-03), whose overarching aim is to provide new knowledge, data, and tools on: i) the relationships between changes in environmental hazards caused by climate change, ecosystems, and human health; ii) the health co-benefits of climate action; iii) the role of health evidence in decision making; and iv) the societal implications of climate change for health systems. CATALYSE is developing innovative surveillance and forecasting tools that facilitate effective response to environmental health hazards, including a heat-health early warning system that incorporates weather forecasting, health data and epidemiological modelling. The early warning system will focus on Catalonia, Spain, based on high-quality health data, high-resolution weather forecasts from the Catalan Meteorological Agency, and established links with local public health stakeholders.
 

Candidates are expected to meet as many of the following criteria as possible:

• have a completed PhD with expertise in environmental epidemiology, climate, atmospheric sciences, mathematics, biostatistics, big data analysis or related areas;
• have a good track record of first-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals, preferably in high-impact journals;
• have experience in the modelling of the relation between environmental exposures and human health (e.g. distributed lag nonlinear models, spatial Bayesian methods, case time series analysis, case crossover analysis);
• have experience in common programming languages, with particular focus on R;
• have experience with the management and analysis of large datasets, and particularly, weather, climate and/or health data;
• be fluent in spoken and written English;
• be willing to apply to individual fellowships to become and independent researcher and define new own research lines;
• be willing to work in an inter-disciplinary team within a highly collaborative research institute.
   

• Fluent in spoken and written English.

• Duration: 2 years (renewable annually subject to performance)
• Starting date: As soon as possible
• Contract: Full time
• Salary Range: 30,000-35,000€ gross annually

Applicants must fill in the request form and include the following code reference position: Postdoc_EA_CAT_Dec24, attach the full CV and a Cover Letter of maximum 250 words. Each attached document must be named with the candidate name and surname. 

The receipt of applications will be open until the position is filled

Only the applications submitted through the request form will be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The interviews could be placed during the reception candidatures period.
Diverse candidatures are encouraged, that includes: gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual orientation, physical abilities, and political views.

The selection process is designed in two phases:
1- Interview phase of a technical nature, with the team that requires the incorporation. To assess the person's skills and CV.
2 - Meeting with HR with the finalist(s) to finish assessing the profile and discuss contractual and institutional issues.

If needed any technical test could be pass. A Psychological Competency Evaluation Test will be required for the structural or transversal positions.

In accordance with the OTM-R principles, a gender-balanced recruitment panel is formed for every vacancy at the beginning of the process. After reviewing the content of the applications, the panel will start the interviews, with at least one technical and one administrative interview. A profile questionnaire as well as a technical exercise may be required during the process.

In ISGlobal we are committed to maintaining and developing a work environment in which the values and principles of our organization are respected and equal opportunities between women and men be promoted in each of the areas in which we operate, not tolerating discrimination based on criteria such as age, gender, marital status, race, ethnicity, functional diversity, political leanings, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

ISGlobal supports the initiative #ScienceforUkraine. Therefore,  to sustain Ukraine’s presence in the European Research Area and international scholarly community, candidates from Ukraine on all levels of scholarly career are welcome: students, PhD candidates, early career researchers and senior scholars.
We confirm our commitment towards the value of the diversity of our staff and student population and seek to promote peace, equity, diversity and inclusion as essential elements in contribution to improving health worldwide.